Moroccan authorities have arrested four people with suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) group, local media reported on Saturday.

Citing security official, the daily Al Ahdath Al Maghribia said the suspects were arrested in the southern cities of Marrakech, Sidi Bennour, Dakhla after intelligence tips.

The same source said that the arrested are suspected of propagating IS extremist ideology and recruiting young people to join IS ranks in Syria and Iraq.

Extremist books and audiovisual materials linked to IS ideology were seized in one of the suspects house in Marrakech, it added.

According to the same source, the suspects are under investigation, adding that the suspicion of their involvement in the same cell is not ruled out.

According to Moroccan authorities, security services have busted around 50 terrorist cells, including over 40 with links to IS group, since 2015.